University of San Francisco Top Questions

I can still hear my high school counselor?s voice ringing in my ear, ?in college, it?s not what you know, but who you know?. I pitied his logic, assuming a college history ridden with bad grades had led him to it. Four years down the line and thousands of dollars down the drain, I finally see his point. I entered my first two years of college with a steady regimen: study and study. My GPA benefited and my future was being paved until my third year of college when the economy began to crash and future prospects of a career for business majors diminished. Budget cuts were eating away at my cal grant and I hadn?t made any solid unions to help me find solutions. After a quasi early-life crisis, I decided to expose myself to networks at USF. The outcome was my membership in a life changing organization. My college experience has taught me that in an economy where the future is unpredictable, straight A?s may not guarantee the triumph of a vocation. High school students should be reminded that the connections they make will expose them to more opportunities than pure grades will.

If I could go back in time, I wouldn't do anything different, but I would reassure myself that what I am doing is the best route for me to go. I was above average academically, and exceptional in athletics, so if I wanted to, I could have gone to many different colleges. Because I have to pay for my education myself, I was forced to go to community college first. At first I felt like I sold myself short, and was lower than my peers, but now after transferring to a private university, it was the best decision I made. I was able to save money and get pretty much the same education (because its General ED) as if I went to a 4-year university out of high school. A lot of the time students believe that the school they go to, defines who they are socially and reputably, so it skews them from thinking realistically. In an economy like this, we must think realistically and weigh out our options that are really important to us rather than status and what others think about us.

College is a competitive world. Students live in the life of stress and pressure to be the best at their university. Trying to pick the best university for your personality will be the hardest, but it will be the best decision you will make for your future. Do not overload yourself with different activities, but pick your favorite and enjoy your first year so you can get your feet warm and understand your limits. Grades will be the most important and do not let anything get in the way with studies because you will regret your mistakes. Enjoy your every moment in college and you will succeed at your best.

All through high school I was a huge procrastinator and in some ways I still am. However, If I could go back in time I would advise myself in two areas. Try to study earlier and to study harder and avoid procrasination. My goal through high school was to pass the class. I am a pretty good student but had I studied earlier and harder I would have been an even better student. I recently found this to be true when I studied for a Psychology final. I studied very hard and it paid off because I received an A out of the class. I wish I had done this in high school. I might be at my first choice university. I would also advise myself not to put things off to the last minute. Prepare for projects in advance so if complications happen, ie: No ink in the printer, you have time to rectify the problem. College life is challenging so time management is crucial.

My advice would be to work very hard in my academics from start to finish Take your assignements very seriously and ask for help when you need assistance. Its ok to look for help if you dont understand something. One of the purposes to going to college is it to learn new things in life that will help you succeed in the future. Save as much money as you can and dont get yourself into credit card debt. These comanpanies target college students and make you believe that having your own credit card is having freedom. Very big mistake you can make while being in college is having consumer debt. It will be very difficult to pay off and you will be focusing on finding full time work to pay this debt off and less focused on school. Live at home with your parents and dont move out if you are not financially ready. Enjoy living at home while you still have the opportunity, save your money and dont let opportunities pass you by that will get you a step closer to your educational goals. You will have endless opportunities if you follow these steps after you graduate college.

Time management is the key to success in college. You must be self motivated and take time out of your day to study, to do homework, etc. because there is no one breathing down your back forcing you to do anything. Procrastination is something you will battle, but unlike high school, where you can usually turn in work late or explain to your teacher why to need an extension on a paper, professors want their work done on time and done right. There will be many distractions but you must set your priorities straight in order to succeed in college. You have a lot more free time than you did in high school, which you would think leaves you will more time to do your work. This is not the case, it gives you more time to goof around and do everything than what you are suppose to be doing, so manage your time wisely. You should also get involved in college. Become a part of a club or committee and get use to networking with people so you will actually feel like a part of the university, rather than just another number on the roster.

You can do anything you want to do, but you have to apply yourself. Remember even when it feels like life is impossible it is possible, you may need to ask for help, being an adult means asking for help when you need it. All you need to do is keep your grades up the last semester of high school and wait for the acceptance letters to come. When you get them make the decision that makes you most happy, if you don?t choose what makes you most happy you will not have a good experience. When you start school remember to keep your focus, attend class every time and do all of the homework. Teachers are available to help you but they will not come to you, go to their office hours and passing the class will be much easier. Don?t forget to have fun! Isolation is not a good way to meet people. You have to go out of your comfort zone and meet new people, but once you do you will be very thankful for your new friends. Take every chance to learn, college is a time of discovery.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would give myself a few words of advice. I would first tell myself to not drop out of my AP english class. Even with one semester under my belt I was ahead of most students in my college classes. Even though it had gotten harder for me and I decided to drop back it would have been a lot better to have two semester instead of one. I then would have told myself to follow my heart, carreer wise. To go to school for the major I wanted to do and not the major everyone else wanted me to do. I would tell myself to follow my passion so that I was doing classes I really wanted to do and not ones that I was extremely unhappy in.Nothing else I would want to change becsue the people and teachers I met were amazing and did help me get to where I am right now and where wish I had been two years ago. It is always better late then never I guess! Thank you!

If I had the opportunity to go back and time and give myself advice, I would tell myself to be disciplined and take school more seriously. Once you get into college there are not as many second chances, and you have to deal with the mistakes you made. College is not as forgiving as high school and I would explain to myself that I needed to learn how to take my grades seriously because they are more important in college. There are so many little things in high school that don't even matter in college. For example; the friends you make, the mundane teachers, and the amount of work. In college you start with new friends, the teachers become more exciting, and the workload only gets bigger. I would let myself know that there are many harder challenges in the future and that I should start learning how to deal with the ones that come my way. College is an entirely different world from high school, and I would make sure I knew how to deal with the problems that lie ahead.

As a student now in college I would tell myself as well to other in that same possition, who really care about studing and are trying their utmost effort to be the best student possibel, that it is always important to build a good relationship with your consular and teachers because they will guide you in making better decisions that can lead you to the success of your career. Also it is important to take advantage of the programs offer by the university especially those programs that are aim to your particular career because, that will not only enhance your career knowledge but it gives you a good experience, and sometimes another perspective of how things are on your course of study. it is a good idea to attend the free workshops offer by the college because that as well helps you improve skills. It is always good to be as much involved with your school because one can just go forward with everything that was learned by the institution one chose to be its mentor. How one handles the challenge is on ones hand, the schools are doing their best to provide with the necessary tools to succced.